Spoon molding machine and method



July 2s, 1942.

A. c. HOPKINS 2,291,471

SPOON MOLDINC- MACHINE AND METHOD Filed NOV. 26, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1INV E N T n R ARTHUR L". HUPKJNS ATTRHEY July 28, 1942. A 'Q HQPKlNs2,291,471

SPOON MOLDI'NG MACHINE AND METHOD 'Filed Nov. 26. 31958 e sheets-sheet 2H INVENTDH ,57 ARTHUR I Ham/N5 July 28), 1942. A, Q H0PK|N$ 2,291,471

SPOON MOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 26, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3Inv ENT DR ARTHUR Ef HDFKz/Ys vTT DRHEY Juiy 28, w42. A Q HOPKNS2,2%,471-

SPOON MOLDNG MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 261938 6 Sheets-Sheetfl sIHvl-:HTDR ARTHUR L". HWK/N5 v TTDRNEY July 28, 1942- A. c. HoPKlNsSPOON MOLDING MACHINE AND METHD Filed Nov. 26, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5JET/7.

Zomzoe 2% *nlm uw ATT CIRHEY A. C. HOPKNS SPOON MOLDING lvlAcHImi: ANDMETHOD July 28, 1942.

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ATTDRHEY Patented July 28, 1942 UNlTED STTES Tr reise SPOON MOLDENGMACHINE AND METHOD Application November 26, 1938, Serial No. .242,639

26 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to improvements in spoon molding of thetype in which thin, flat wooden blanks cut to the desired shape aresubjected to the action of a suitable forming and molding mechanism topress them into conventional spoon shape. These wooden spoon blanks areusually fed to the forming and molding mechanism when in a moist or wet,pliable state caused usually by subjecting the lblanks to the action ofwater. When the moist blanks have been pressed in the conventionalmanner into spoon shape, an excessively large number of the spoons thusformed become useless and must be discarded owing to the bowls of thespoons checking or splitting as they dry in the molding machine.

The main object of this invention is t0 provide a method of and amachine for forming and molding thin wooden spoon blanks intoconventional spoon shape in such a manner that the spoons, after beingremoved from the molding mechanism, will remain intact and therebyeliminate much of the excessive waste and expense heretofore experiencedin the manufacture thereof owing to the relative large number ofrejects.

Another object of the invention is to produce a machine of the abovementioned class which is compact, durable and economical in constructionand which is accurate and rapid in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to produce an improved dieoperating structure. In carrying out this last mentioned object, I haveprovided a sectional die member and means for o closing said die underyielding pressure by mechanical means including an element having apredetermined stroke of operation.

Furthermore, I have provided simple, eiiicient means for locking eachdie member in the closed position irrespective of changes that may occurin the degree of spacing of the die sections while maintaining said die-member and the spoon blank under a relatively high degree oftemperature. I have also provided a simple mechanism adapted to engagethe marginal edge of the bowl portion of the spoon blank during closingof the die for compressing the same to and holding it at substantiallyits normal size prior to the moistening and swelling of the blank.

The spoon blanks, when in the moist or Wet condition ready to be fed tothe forming and molding mechanism, are often more or less warped incross section, and a further object of this invention resides inproviding a power Cil operated means for feeding the blanks to themachine under pressure so as to return the blanks to and maintain themin substantially a fiat condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple andefcient branding device which functions in synchronism with the blankfeeding means for marking the spoon blanks with a suitable token orinsignia.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the form, relation andoperation of the parts of the mechanism will more fully appear from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spoon molding machine embodying thevarious features of this invention, certain portions of the machinebeing broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation, partly broken away and in section, ofthe machine shown in Figure 1, taken substantially in the plane of theline 2 2 of said latter figure.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation showing a portion of theintermittent indexing mechanism for the die carrier as viewed from theplane indicated by the line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional View through the power drivenfeed mechanism taken substantially on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5 5,Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantiallyon line 6 6, Figure 2.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail Vertical sectional views taken, respectively,on lines 7 1 and 8 8, Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on line9 9, Figure S, illustrating a portion of the spoon blank brake releasemechanism on an enlarged scale.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially online lli |0, Figure 1, illustrating a portion of the blank feedmechanism and the adjacent portion of the die carrier on an enlargedscale.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view takensubstantially on line l I II,

figure 10.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the spoon blank feed slide.

Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the feed slide takenon line I3 I3, Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail plan view illustrating the upper end of the spoonblank feed standard as viewed from line Ill-I4, Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a latch member for maintaining thespoon blank in an intermediate elevated position during the retractionof the feed slide.

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view through oneof the spoon blank molding die members taken substantially on line I6-I6, Figure 10, the die member being shown in the open position.

Figure 17 is a detail vertical sectional view of the lower portion ofthe die shown in Figure I6, illustrating said die locked in the closedposition.

Figure 18 is a detail face View of the female section of the die shownin Figures 16 and 17, as viewed from line I8-I8, Figure 16.

Figure 19 is an enlarged face view of an intermediate portion of thefemale die member illustrated in Figure 18 with the bowl portion of aspoon blank associated therewith, the spoon blank being illustrated inits normal swelled or expanded condition by broken lines and by fulllines when compressed by the clamping jaw members to substantially itsnormal form prior to the moistening operation.

Figures 20, 21 and 22 are horizontal sectional views through the diemember taken substantially on line 26-26, Figure 16, illustratingsuccessive positions of the members of the die in moving from'the openposition to the closed position.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a wooden spoon formed in the machineof this invention.

Figure 24 is a detail vertical sectional view through the upper portionof the die carrier housing or oven, taken substantially on line 24-24,Figure 1, illustrating a vent therefor.

The spoon molding machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a frameI composed of opposite end members 2, a cross rod 3 and a pair of cross4bars 4. The end members 2 are each composed of a pair of verticallydisposed bars 5 arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation witheach other, said bars being tied together at their upper end by aspacing block 6 and at their lower end by a tie bar 1 extendingtransversely of said bars. The cross rod 3 extends longitudinally of theframe at the upper end thereof, the ends of said rod beingscrew-threaded in the spacing blocks 6. Nuts 8 may be screw-threaded onthe cross rod 3, as shown in Figure l, at opposite sides of thecorresponding spacing block 6 for locking the cross rod to the endmembers 5.

A cylindrical housing or oven I is mounted in the frame I intermediatethe end members 2.

This housing or oven II) is composed of two substantially equal sectionsII and I2 which are secured together by bolts I3 passing throughsuitable lugs I4 secured to the sections at their adjacent sides, asillustrated in Figures 1 and 6. The housing or oven is supported by thecross rod 3 of the frame I by means of a pair of ears I5 secured to theupper portion of the housing section I2, as shown in Figure 6, and apair of ears I6 secured to the upper portion of the housing section II.These ears I and I6 are rotatably mounted on the cross rod 3 between apair of collars I1 secured to said cross rod so that the housingsections may swing about said cross rod toward and from each other whenthe bolts I3 are removed from the lugs I4.

The interior of the housing or oven I0 may be heated by any suitablemeans as by a plurality of electrical heating elements, one of which isillustrated at I9, Figure 6. A baille plate is preferably extendedacross the inner chamber, as 2 I, of

the housing or oven adjacent the heating elements I9 for deecting theheating rays produced by the heating elements laterally so as tomaintain the chamber 2I at a substantially uniform temperaturethroughout the entire area thereof and to protect the die mechanism,presently described, mounted within the chamber and which is positionedadjacent the heating elements from the heat produced by said elements.Any suitable means may be employed for connecting the heating elementswith a source of potential (not shown).

Extending through the housing or oven II) substantially coaxiallytherewith is a substantially horizontally disposed shaft 22 which isjournaled in suitable bearing members 23 secured to the end members 2 ofthe frame I in a plane below the spacing blocks 6. The housing or ovenI8 is provided with suitable apertures 24 in the end walls thereofloosely receiving the shaft 22 therethrough. These apertures 24 arepreferably formed by recessing adjacent surfaces of the sections II andI2 so that one or both of said sections may freely swing toward and fromthe other independently of the shaft.

The shaft 22 may be rotated by any suitable indexing means, as from adrive shaft 25, journaled in suitable bearings 26 secured to the rearend member 2 of the frame I beneath the shaft 22. The shaft 25 may berotated by any suitable means, as by a belt 21, connected with anysuitable source of power (not shown) and a pulley 28 secured to theshaft 25, as shown in Figure 1. The shaft 25 is operatively connectedwith the shaft 22 by means of a sprocket gear 29 mounted on the shaft 25and connected by a chain belt 36 to a sprocket wheel 3I secured to aneccentric shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings 33 secured to theframe I intermediate the shaft 22 and drive 'shaft 25. The shaft 32 hasone end thereof offset to provide an eccentric 34 which is operativelyVconnected with the shaft 22 by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 35 mountedon the shaft 22, and a linkage mechanism 36 journaled on the eccentric34 and operatively connected with the ratchet and pawl mechanism 35, asshown in VFigure 2. The ratchet wheel 31 of the ratchet and pawlmechanism 35 is keyed to the shaft 22, as illustrated in Figure 6, whilethe pawl as 38 is pivotally mounted, as at 39, to one end of a rock arm40 rotatably mounted on the shaft 22 adjacent the outer side of theratchet 31. The linkage mechanism, 36, in this instance, comprises apair of head members 4I and 42, one of which, as 4I, is pivotallyconnected by a pin 43 to a pendent portion 38' of the pawl 38. The otherone of the head members, as 42, is provided with a roller bearing member44 mounted upon the eccentric 34.

The head members 4I and 42 are adjustably secured to each other by abolt 45 which has one end thereof in screw-threaded engagement with thehead 4I and the other end in screw-threaded engagement with a yoke 46which in turn is pivotally connected by a pin 41 to the head 42.

A pair of lock nuts 48, screw-threaded on the bolt 45, are provided forsecuring the bolt in the adjusted position with respect to the head 4Iand yoke 46. The pivotal pins 43 and 41 are arranged in right angularrelation with respect to each other so as to permit the linkagemechanism to swing about the pin 43 during theA rotation of theeccentric 34 and to swing about the pin 41 as the latch 38 pivots aboutthe pin 39 during the movement of said latch into and out of holdingengagement with the ratchet wheel 31.

It will now be observed that during the rotation of the eccentric shaft32, the shaft 22 will be intermittently rotated, the amount of rotationof shaft 22 for such rotation of the eccentric shaft 32 depending uponthe amount of throw of the linkage mechanism produced by the eccentric34 or, in other words, on the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric34.

The shaft 22 is maintained against rotation during the movement of thelatch 38 from engagement with one tooth of the ratchet wheel 31 intoengagement with another tooth thereof by means of a drag mechanism 50.This drag mechanism comprises a brake drum 5I secured to the shaft 22intermediate the ratchet wheel 31 and the adjacent bearing 23, as shownin Figure 6, and a brake band 52 mounted on the brake drum 5I. One endof the brake band 52 is xedly secured to the frame I by means of a pin53 connected with said end of the brake drum and with the adjacent endmember 2 of the frame I, as shown in Figure 3. The other end of thebrake band 52 is connected by a pin 54 with the bifurcated end of a rockarm 55 pivotally connected by a pin 58 to a pendent lug 51 secured to ormade integral with the adjacent spacing block 6 of the frame I, as shownin Figures l, 2 and 6.

The brake band 52 is yieldingly maintained in 5 frictional engagementwith the brake drum 5I by means of an adjusting screw 59 pivotallyconnected, as at 68, with the arm 55 and which passes through anaperture in plate 6I secured to the adjacent end member of the frame I.

Nuts 62, screw-threaded on the outer end of the screw member 59, areadapted to engage the plate 6I for drawing the arm 55 toward the brakepin 53 and maintain the brake band 52 in frictional engagement with thebrake drum 5I. A spring 63 may be mounted on the screw member 59 betweenthe plate 8| and arm 55 for moving the brake band out of frictionalengagement with the brake drum when the nuts 82 are screw-threadedoutwardly toward the free end of the member 59.

A stop arm 65 cooperates with the pawl 38 for positively holding theshaft 22 in a predetermined position during each feeding operation ofthe ratchet and pawl mechanism 35. This stop arm 65 has one end thereofprovided with an eccentric strap 66 rotatably mounted on an eccentricsleeve 61 secured to a pin 68 which in turn is connected with theadjacent end member 2 of the frame I, as shown in Figure 2. The lowerend of the stop arm 55 is moved into and out of f' engagement with atooth of the ratchet wheel 31 during the operation of the pawl 38 andarm 48 by means of a link 69 pivotally connected with the lower end ofthe arm 65 and with an upwardly projecting arm member 48 connected withthe arm 40, as indicated in Figure 2.

It will now be observed that during upward movement of the arm 48 tobring the pawl 38 from engagement with one tooth of the ratchet wheel 31into engagement with the next adjacent tooth thereof, the lower end ofthe stop arm 65 will be moved out of engagement with the ratchet Wheel31 by rocking movement of the extension 48 through the medium of link59. As the ratchet wheel is rotated by action of the pawl 38 during thedownward movement of said pawl, the stop arm 55 will again swing intoengagement with a tooth of the ratchetJ wheel as the pawl 38 approachesits lowermost portion and cooperates with said pawl for positivelyholding the ratchet wheel against vibratory movement when the pawl is inits lowermost position. The stop arm 65 may be adjusted to effectlongitudinal movement thereof by rotation of the eccentric sleeve 61 onthe pin 68 to bring the lower end of the stop arm into proper holdingrelation with a tooth of the ratchet wheel.

Mounted upon the shaft 22 and positioned within the oven l0 is a diecarrier 12 which, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 10, is a circularflanged plate provided with a hub 13 at the center to permit the shaft22 to pass therethrough. The carrier 12 may be secured to the shaft 22in any suitable manner, as by keys 14, to cause said carrier to rotatein unison with the shaft. Mounted upon one side surface of the carrier12 in substantially uniform circumferential spaced relation to eachother is a plurality of, in this instance twenty-four, die supportingbrackets 15, each of which, as illustrated in Figure 16, is secured tothe carrier 12 by a pair of screws 16.

Each bracket 15 consists of a substantially rectangular base plate 11arranged substantially radially with respect to the carrier 12 and apair of outwardly projecting arms 18 secured to or formed integral withthe upper end of the plate or base 11 and arranged in spacedsubstantially parallel relation with each other. Each bracket 15supports a spoon molding die 88 which, as shown more particularly inFigure 16, comprises a female die section BI secured to the lower endportion of the base 11 by screws 82, and a male die section 83 securedby screws 84 to the outer end portion of a rock arm 85, the arm 85 beingpivotally secured at its inner end to the arms 18 by a pin 85. The maledie section 83 is normally maintained in an outer position in spacedrelation to the corresponding female die section 8I by means of aspring-pressed plunger 81 mounted in a suitable recess provided in thebase 11 adjacent the arms 18 and which has the outer end thereofengaging the corresponding arm 85. The spring, as 88, for actuating theplunger 81 is mounted in a bore 89 provided in an annular flange 98 onthe carrier 12. The spring 88 has the outer end thereof in engagementwith a plug 9| screw-threaded in the bore 89 so that the tension of saidspring may be increased or decreased by adjustment of the plug.

The position of the male die 83 with respect to the female die 8l iscontrolled by a keeper 82 pivotally connected by a pin 83 to the outerends of a pair of bearing arms 54 secured to or made integral with theouter end portion of the corresponding bracket base 11. rhese bearingarms 94 are arranged to extend outwardly at opposite sides of thecorresponding rock arm 85 in substantially parallel relation with eachother.

Each keeper 92 is provided with a substantially right angle recess 85 inone side thereof adapted, when the keeper is in one position, to receivethe` lower end portion of the corresponding arm 85 therein, asillustrated in Figure 16. Each keeper 82 is also provided with a camsurface 96 which extends from the recess S5 across one end thereof in.eccentric relation to the pin 93 for contacting the adjacent end edge ofthe arm 85 when said arm is moved to its innermost position, asillustrated in Figure i7, and maintaining the male die section 83carried by the arm in cooperative relation with the corresponding femaledie section 8I when a spoon blank is being molded. Each keeper 92 isalso provided with an, operating pin S1 which extends substantiallyradially from the end thereof opposite the cam 95. This pin is arrangedto be engaged by a cam member 98 secured to the housing or oven at theinner side thereof for moving said keeper from its locking positionshown in Figure 17 where the arm 85 is held thereby in its innermostposition to the cocked position shown in Figure 16 where said arm 85 ismaintained in its outer position.

The cam member 98 is secured to the inner side of the oven l0 near thebottom thereof and adjacent the rear side of a discharge opening 99formed in the peripheral wall of the oven, as shown in Figure 10, foreffecting opening of the die member and the release of a formed spoon ina manner which will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Each keeper 92 is yieldingly urged to rotate about its pin 93 in adirection to bring the cam surface 95 thereof into operative engagementwith the corresponding arm 85 by means of a coil spring |00 secured atone end to the corresponding arm 85 in spaced relation to the pivotalend thereof, see Figure 6, and to a pin |0| secured to one end of thepivotal pin 93 which is extended beyond the adjacent arm member 94, asillustrated in Figure 10, it being understood that each keeper 92 issecured to its corresponding pivotal pin 93 by a screw |02, as shown inFigure 17, so as to rotate with said pivotal pin.

While each spring |00 is adapted to rotate its keeper 92 to maintain thecam 96 of said keeper in contact with the corresponding arm 85 as saidarm is moved toward the base 11, said spring is not of sumcient strengthto cause the cam 95 to effect movement of the arm 85 inwardly againstthe action of the spring pressed plunger 81.

It will now be observed, by referring to Figures 2 and 10, that thereare the same number of teeth in the sprocket wheel 31 as there are diemembers 80 provided on the carrier 12. These die members and teeth areso arranged with respect to each other that when the pawl '38 is in itslowermost position a die member 80 will be positioned beneath the shaft22 in substantially the vertical plane passing through the axis of saidshaft and over the forward end portion of the opening 99 for receiving aspoon blank, as B, Figure 4, therein which blank may be fed to said dieby a suitable feed mechanism |02 presently described.

It will also be observed by referring to Figure that the die 8i), wheninitially moved to the vertical or loading position, will be open due tothe'coaction of plunger 81 and keeper 92 as the arm 91 of the keeper ismoved over the cam 98. In other words, the engagement of a pin 91 withthe cam 98 during intermittent rotation of the die carrier 12 will swingthe corresponding keeper from the locking position where it maintainsthe male die section in its innermost position in operative relationwith the corresponding female die, as shown in Figure 16, to the cockedposition where the free end of the corresponding arm 85 registers in thekeeper recess 95. This registration of the arm 85 in the recess 95maintains the keeper in its cocked position against being rotated to itslocked position by the action of the spring |00 so that as the diemember moves from a position at the rear of the opening 99 to theloading station in registration with the forward end portion of saidopening, the die members will be in their open position for receiving aspoon blank therein.

After the spoon blank has been fed into the die member positioned at theloading station,

the male die section 83 is moved toward the corresponding female diesection 8| for closing the die by means of a die-closing mechanism |04.This die-closing mechanism |04 comprises a tubular housing member |05which is secured to the rear end member 2 of the frame by means of bolts|06 passing through aligned holes provided in the end bars 5 andlaterally projecting lugs |01 provided on the housing |05 at one endthereof, as shown in Figure 6.

Slidably mounted in the housing |05 is a bearing sleeve |08 which hassecured to the outer end thereof a yoke |09 which rotatably supports acam follower I0. This cam follower is adapted to engage the peripheralsurface of a cam secured to the eccentric shaft 32 intermediate thebearings 33, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. The sleeve |08 extendsthrough the housing |05 and has secured to the inner or forward endthereof a pin ||2 which extends upwardly therefrom and loosely passesthrough an elongated slot ||3 provided in the inner end of the housing|05 so as to maintain the sleeve and housing against relative rotarymovement.

To the outer end of the pin ||2 is secured a spring ||4 which has theother end thereof connected with the upper lug |91 of the housing |05for yieldingly urging the sleeve |08 outwardly or in a direction towardthe cam and thus maintain the cam follower ||0 in engagement with thecam A plunger ||5 is slidably mounted in the sleeve |08 for longitudinalreciprocative movement with respect thereto. The plunger ||5 is providedwith an elongated slot I'I which receives therethrough a stop pin ||1secured to the sleeve |08 adjacent the inner end thereof for maintainingthe plunger against rotary movement and also for limiting the axialmovement of said plunger with respect to the sleeve. The plunger ||5 hasthe inner end portion ||5 thereof slightly reduced in diameter andcarries a spring ||8 positioned between a Washer ||9 mounted on thereduced end portion H5 adjacent nuts |20 screw-threaded on said reducedend portion, and the inner or forward end of the sleeve |08.

The plunger ||5 is provided with an extension |2| adapted to engage ahardened bearing plate |22 provided on each rock arm 85 in position toalign with the plunger i5 when the corresponding die is moved to theloading station. The extension |2| is mounted in a centrally disposedopening |23 provided in the forward end of the plunger ||5 inscrew-threaded engagement therewith so as to be adjusted axially withrespect to the plunger l5 for bringing the forward end of the extensioninto proper engagement with the bearing plate |22 when the plunger ||5is moved to its innermost position. The extension |2| may be secured inthe adjusted position by a nut |24 screw-threaded on said extension forengagement with the forward end of the plunger ||5.

It will now be observed that the relation of the pin ||1 and slot ||6and extension |2| are such that when the sleeve is moved by the cam toits innermost position, the plunger extension |2| will be moved throughthe coaction of sleeve |08 and spring ||8 into engagement with an arm 85adjacent thereto for yieldingly urging the male die section connectedwith said arm to the closed position. The parts are shown in Figure 6with the high point of the cam in engagement with the cam roller H0, thesleeve |08 in its extreme forward position, and the plunger extensionI2I' in Contact with the arm 85, the die having just been closed. Itwill be observed from Figure 6 that the pin ||1 is near the center ofits slot I I5, and that the only driving connection -between the sleeve|08 and the plunger extension |2I is through the spring I I8.

Just prior to the feeding of the spoon blanks which are composed ofthin, flat wood stamped or cut into spoon shape, as indicated on a smallscale at B, Figure 4, the blanks are subjected to i the action ofmoisture thereon to render the same soft and pliant so as to be readilymolded into the conventional spoon contour. When the spoon blanks B arethus treated with moisture they, of course, expand, particularly at thebowl portion of the blank which is somewhat greater in cross sectionalarea than the handle portion thereof.

Associated with each die member B3 is a blank compressor unit |28 whichis adapted to compress the temporarily expanded bowl portion of thespoon to substantially its normal width during the time the bowl portionof the Iblank is operated upon by the die sections 8| and 33 to mold thesame into the usual spoon bowl of concavo-convex cross section. Each ofthese blank compressor units comprises a pair of clamping jaw members|21 which are pivotally secured in opposed relation to each other to thefemale section 8| of the die by shouldered screws |28 which havescrew-threaded engagement with the die section at the inner side of thedie cavity 3I, as shown in Figure 18.

The screws |28 are arranged intermediate the ends of the jaw members andthe jaw members have the inner adjacent surfaces thereof provided withopposed recesses |29 conforming in contour substantially to that of theperipheral surface of the bowl portion of the spoon blank. Theserecesses |29 are arranged in aligned relation with the die cavity 8|'for receiving the bowl portion of th-e spoon blank therein when saidportion of the blank is in registration with the die cavity. Theopposite or inner end portions of the jaws extend some distance beyondthe pivotal screws |23 and are connected by a coil spring which normallyurges these ends of the jaw members toward each other for maintainingthe opposite end portions in spaced relation to each other.

A stop pin, as ISI, may, as shown in Figure 18, be connected with thedie section 8| intermediate the inner ends of the jaw members forlimiting the relative movement of said jaw members produced by thespring |39 and to also maintain the jaw members in symmetrical relationwith the die cavity when said members are in the open position. The jawmembers |21 are normally maintained in vsuch spaced relation to eachother when in the open position as to readily permit the bowl portion ofthe spoon blank to enter the recesses |29, as the blank is moved intocooperative relation with the die sections 8| and 83.

The jaws |21 are moved toward each other into clamping engagement withthe bowl portion of the spoon blank, as the die 8|) is being closed, bya pair of arms |32 secured, as illustrated in Figures 16 and 1'7, toopposite sides of the corresponding rock arm 85. These arms |32 extendinwardly from the arm 85 along adjacent sides of the male die section 83in substantially the plane passing transversely through the die cavityEI midway between the ends of said Cavity. The inner or free ends of thearms |32 are tapered, as at |32', to provide cam surfaces for engagingthe outer edges of jaw member |21 and urging the jaw members to theirinnermost positions against the action of spring |30 for compressing theswollen bowl portion of the spoon blank to substantially its normalwidth.

The hereinbefore mentioned mechanism |02 for feeding the spoon blanks Binto operative relation with successive die members 8i) comprises asubstantially horizontally disposed chute or magazine |34 which issecured to the forward end member 2 of the frame below the shaft 22.This chute or magazine |34 is substantially U-shaped in cross sectionand is adapted to receive the handle portions h of the spoon blankstherein when said blanks are maintained in substantially a verticalposition, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4.

The forward end of the chute or magazine |34 terminates in an opening|35 provided in a standard |35 mounted upon the cross bars 4 beneath theoven I5, as shown in Figures l and 10. The upper end of the standard |36extends through the forward portion of opening 99 provided n the wall ofthe oven and terminates in close proximity to the carrier 12 to registerwith adjacent ends of the die members 8|) mounted on said carrier. Theupper end of the standard is secured to a tie rod |31 which in turn issecured to the frame by a cross bar |38 and nuts |39, as shown in Figure6. The rod |31 is disposed in substantially a horizontal plane andextends through an opening formed by recesses |40 provided in adjacentsurfaces of the end walls of the housing sections I| and I2, asindicated in Fige ure 6.

An anvil |4| is screw-threaded on the tie rod |31 adjacent the standard|36 and is adjustably clamped to said rod by nuts |42 screw-threaded onthe rod |31 at Vopposite sides of the anvil. The anvil |4| is adapted toslidably contact the lower side of a marginal ange 12' provided on thecarrier or plate 12 for absorbing the thrust of the plunger ||5 duringthe closing of the die 8) positioned at the loading station.

The inner end of the magazine |34 terminates in substantially the planeof the inner side of the standard |36 in registration with a recess |43provided in a guide plate |44 secured to said standard at said side. Theguide plate extends from the upper end of the standard downwardly tosubstantially the lower end thereof and has secured to its outer facetwo pairs of spacing plates |45 and |45.

The plates of each pair are arranged in substantially parallel relationto each other adjacent corresponding longitudinal edges of the guideplate |44. The plates |45 are of greater width than the plates |46 andare arranged adjacent the guide plate |44, as illustrated in Figure 14.Positioned adjacent the outer faces of the spacing plates |46 are a pairof gib plates |41. The guide plate |44, spacing plates |45 and |46 andthe gib plates |41 are secured to the standard |35 by screws |48 so asto produce a T-shaped guide recess or way |49 for receiving a feed slideFeed slide |55, as shown more particularly in Figures 12 and 13,comprises a thin, flexible plate I5! composed preferably of spring steeland which is adapted to be slidably received in the head or widerportionvof the recess |49 and a pair of cleats |52 which are secured tothe lower half portion of the plate 5| in substantially parallel spacedrelation to each other so as t0 pro- Videla groove or channel |53between them. The cleats |52 are arranged in such spacedV relation tothe adjacentlongitudinal edges of the plate |5| that they are adapted tobe slidably received in the narrower portion of the recess |49. Theupper ends ofthe cleats |52 are preferably beveled in `oppositedirections from their inner adjacent edges, as at |54, to form a seatfor the outer end of the handle portion of a spoon blank.

The feed plate I 5| is provided with a -centrally disposedlongitudinally extending slot |55 vwhich extends from in close proximityto the seat |54 to a circular recess |56 provided in the upper 'end ofthe plate |5|. The recess |56 is adapted to receive the free end of thehandle portion of a spoon blank therein and is provided with acontracted throat portion |56 at the outer end thereof of slightly lesswidth than that of the handle portion of the spoon blank so that whenthe end of the handle portion of the blank is inserted in the recess,said blank will be gripped in the throat |56 and thereby vreleasablysecured to the plate |5| so as to be moved in unison with said plate.

'The side of the plate |5| opposite the cleats |52 is provided with arelatively long narrow bracket |51 which is adapted to be received inthe longitudinal slot |58 which extends longitudinally of the standard|36 between the gib plates |41. This bracket |51 is provided with anoutwardly extending apertured boss |59 to which is pivotally secured oneend of a link |66 which has the other end thereof pivotally connected tothe free end of a rock arm I6I, as illustrated in Figures 1, '1 andll.The rock arm I6| has the other end thereof positioned between the bear--ing members 26 for the shaft 25, as illustrated in Figures 2 and '1,and pivotally connected to said bearing members by a pin |62.

Mounted over the arm |6| at the inner side of the rear end member 2 ofthe frame I is a cam shaft |64 which is journaled in suitable bearings|65 secured to the end bars 5 of said end member. Upon the shaft |64 isa cam |66 which is mounted over the arm |6| for engagement with a camfollower |51 rotatably connected by straps |66 and pin |66 to the armI6|. The arm I6I is urged upwardly about the pivot |62 for maintainingthe cam follower |61 in'contact with the peripheral surface of the cam|66 by aY spring |16 which is mounted between a pair rof heads |1|, oneof said heads being pivotally connected, as at |12, to the arm 6|intermediate the cam follower |61 and pivotal pin |62. The other head|1| is rotatably mounted on a stud |13 connected with the adjacent endmember of the frame I by a bra-cket |14.

It will now be observed that during rotation of the cam |65 arm I6| willrock about its pivot |62 by the cooperation of said cam and the spring|10 forreciprocating the feed slide |59 in the guide recess |49. Therelation f the cam |66, arm |6| and boss |59 is such that when the arm,and therefore the feed slide |56, is in the lowermost position the seat|54 will be positioned in substantial alignment with or slightly belowthe bottom |34' of the chute cr magazine |34, as illustrated in Figures6 and 1l. It therefore follows that the upper end portion of the feedplate will extend a corresponding distance above the bottom |34 of thefeed chute.

As hereinbefore indicated, the spoon blanks B are placed in the chute|34 with the handle portion of the blanks arranged lowermost. The chute|34 is provided with a pair of feed rollers |16 which are securedV tovertically disposed spindles |11 arranged at Yopposite sides of thechute, as illustrated in Figure 4, and journaled in suitable .bearings|16 securedto a bracket |19 carried by the standard |36 as indicated inFigure 1. The feed rollers |16 extend through corresponding apertures|86 provided in the sides of the chute |34 to engage the handle portionsof the spoon blanks and are rotated in unison by a pair of gears |8|mounted on the spindles |11 in meshing engagement with each other anda'bevel gear |62 mounted 0n the lower end of one of the spindles |11 inmeshing engagement with a similar bevel gear |83 secured to a driveshaft |84. The shaft |84 is rotatably mounted in a pair of axiallyspaced bearings |85 connected with a bracket |66 secured to the standard|36, as shown in Figure 5. Shaft |64 is driven by a sprocket wheel |61rotatably mounted on the shaft and operatively connected therewith by afriction clutch mechanism |88. The sprocket wheel |61 is connected .by achain belt |89 with a sprocket gear |96 which in turn is secured to thecam shaft |64, said cam shaft being driven from the eccentric shaft 32by means of a pair of intermeshing gears |9| secured one to the shaft 32and the other to the shaft |64.

The friction clutch |86, in this instance, comprises a pair of frictionplates |92 and |92 mounted upon the shaft |64 at opposite sides of thesprocket wheel |81, one of said plates, as |62, being iixedly secured tothe shaft and the other plate |92 being splined to said shaft so as tomove axially with respect thereto. Mounted intermediate the frictionplates |92 and the sprocket wheel |61 are two series of friction members|93, each of the series of friction members being supported by aretaining plate |94 mounted on the shaft |64 intermediate thecorresponding friction plate |92 and the sprocket wheel |61. Thesprocket wheel |81 may, as illustrated in Figure 4, be provided with apair of friction plates |95 secured to opposite sides thereof to beengaged by the corresponding series of friction members |93. Thefriction members |93 are yieldingly urged into frictional contact withthe friction plates |92 and |95 by means of a spring |96 mounted on theshaft |84 intermediate the friction plate |92 and a collar |91 mountedon the outer end of the shaft |84. The collar |91 may be screw-threadedon said shaft, as shown, to permit adjustment thereof with respect tothe shaft for varying the tension of the spring |96.

'I'he feed rollers |16 are preferably composed of rubber or otherresilient material and are so spaced with respect to each other as tofrictionally receive the handle ends of the spoon blanks between them.After the spoon blanks have been subjected to the action of moisture, ashereinbefore mentioned, prior to the feeding of the spoons to themachine, they often become warped, and the feed rollers I 16 andfriction clutch |88 are so arranged that they will feed the spoon blanksforwardly through the chute |34 and crowd them into such pressureengagement with the feed slide |59 as to return the blanks from theirwarped condition to a flat condition.

The chute or magazine |34 is also provided with a spring pressed plunger|99 arranged at the outer side of the feed rollers |16. This plunger |99comprises a head 26|) secured to one end of arod or stem 26| which isslidably supported in a pair of bearings 262 connected with the outerend of the chute |34. The stem 20| is provided with a collar 203 securedthereto intermediate the bearings 232 and a compression spring 234 ismounted on the stem intermediate the collar 233 and one of said bearingsfor urging the head inwardly toward the feed rollers The head 23|)comprises a spring plate 260 which extends downwardly from the stem 23|into the chute |34 at an inclination to the axis of the stern forsupporting the spoon blanks and urging them toward the feed rollers |16as said blanks are positioned in the chute intermediate said head andfeed rollers.

As shown in Figure 11, the standard |36 is provided with a bore 265arranged above the opening |35. In this bore is slidably mounted a spoonblank retaining member or head 236 having a projection or latch 261which extends from the forward end 256 thereof through a suitableaperture |44 provided in the guide plate |44 in alignment with the bore235 and into the guide recess |49 for the feed slide |53. The latch 21is adapted to be received in slot |55 adjacent recess |56 provided atthe upper end of the feed slide |56 when said slide is in its lowermostposition. The latch 261 is of such a width as to readily travel throughthe slot |55 as the feed plate is moved upwardly during the feeding of ablank from the chute |34 toward the oven H).

The retaining head 236 is provided With a stem S which is slidab-lysupported in a plug 239 screw-threaded in the outer end of the bore 265.A spring 2| 3 is mounted on the stem 238 intermediate the plug 229 and ahead 233 for urging said latch to its normal foremost position withshoulders 201 provided on said head in contact with plate |44.

The standard |33 is provided with a second bore 2|2 which extendstherethrough in a plane above the bore 265 in substantially parallelrelation therewith. In the bore 2|2 is mounted a brake member 2|3 which,in this instance, cornprises a cup-shaped case 2|4 provided withinternal threads with which a brake shoe 2 i5 composed of cork or othersuitable resilient material is mounted so as to project inwardly a shortdistance beyond the case into the guide recess |49 for the feed slideI5. The case 2|4 is provided with a stem 2|6 which extends outwardly,

through a plug 2|1 screw-threaded in the outer end of the bore 2 |2.

A spring 2|8 is mounted on the stem 2|6 between the plug 2 |1 and thecase 2 I4 for yieldingly urging the case and brake shoe inwardly towardthe guide recess |49. The outer end of the stem 2|6 extends somedistance beyond the plug 2|1 and is slidably received in the bifurcatedend of a rock lever 2|9. The lever 2|9 extends downwardly from the stem2 I6 and has the lower end thereof secured to a rock stud 223 which isjournaled in a bearing 22| secured to an L- shaped bracket 222 which inturn is connected with the standard |36, as illustrated in Figures 9 and11.

The stud 226 is secured at one end to an arm 223 which extendsrearwardly from the standard |33 to a position over the cam shaft |64,as illustrated in Figure 8. The rear or free end of the arm 223 isprovided with a pendent portion 223 providing a cam follower adapted tocontact the peripheral surface of a cam 224 mounted on the cam shaft |64at the end thereof opposite the drive gear |9|, as illustrated in Figure2. The cam follower 223 is maintained in cooperative relation with thecam 224 by a spring 226 connected with the arm 223 and with a plate 221secured to the cross bars 4 of the frame as illustrated in Figures l and2, The arrangement of the cam 224 and arm 223 is such that the lever 2|9is yieldingly urged inwardly toward the standard |36 by the spring 226and positively moved outwardly away from said standard by the action ofthe cam 224. For this purpose the stem 2|6 is provided with nuts 228screw-threaded on the outer end of the stem to be engaged by the upperend of the lever M9.

This machine may, as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 6, beprovided with a branding or stamping mechanism 23 for inscribing asuitable token or insignia on the spoon blanks. This branding mechanism236 comprises an electric heating element 23| adapted to extend throughthe slot |58 and which carries the desired token or insignia. Thisheating element is secured to a flanged sleeve 232 in insulated spacedrelation thereto said sleeve being screw-threaded on the forward end ofa reciprocating arm 233. The arm 233 is hingedly connected with thehousing member l5 by means of two pairs of parallel links 234 pivotallyconnected to said arm.

A spring 235 is connected at one end to the link of the rearwardlypositioned pair adjacent the pivotal connection thereof with the housing|35, the other end of the spring being connected to the forwardlypositioned pair of links adjacent the pivotal connection thereof withthe arm 233 for urging the arm 233 rearwardly and holding a cam follower235i carried by said arm in contact with a cam 231 mounted on the camshaft |64, as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

The cam follower 233, in this instance, is mounted on the lower end of avertically disposed rock arm 238 which is pivotally connectedintermediate its ends, as at 239, to the rear end of the arm 233. Theother end of the rock arm 238 is mounted between a spring 24 and a stopscreW 24| carried by an extension 233 of the arm 233. The spring 243 isarranged to maintain the upper end of the arm 233 in yielding contactwith the stop screw 24| during the normal operation of the arm 233 forbringing the heating element into engagement with the spoon blank underyielding pressure.

The tension of the spring 246 is controlled by an adjusting screw 242mounted in the arm extension 233 at the rear of the spring 240. Thebranding mechanism, as shown, is mounted to engage the lower end portionof the handle of the spoon blank when said blank is maintained in theintermediate position in its movement along the guide recess |49. Itwill be evident, however, that the branding mechanism may readily bepositioned to engage other portions of the spoon b-lank if desired.

In operation the spoon blanks which, as hereinbefore stated, are in amore or less swollen condition due to the action of water, steam orother moistening means thereon, are manually stacked in the chute ormagazine |34 between the head 230 of the plunger |99 and the feedrollers |16. As the machine is set into operation by rotation of thedrive pulley 28, the feed rollers |16 urge the spoon blanks forwardlythrough the chute or magazine until the foremost blank contacts with theadjacent portion of the feed plate |5|. During the initial upwardmovement of the feed slide |56, the spoon blank will be engaged by seat|54 and be carried upwardly with the slide through the rear or narrowportion of the guide recess |49. During this upward movement of the feedslide the latch 201 will register in the slot |55 of the feed plate |5|until said latch is engaged by the upper end of the spoon blankwhereupon the latch will be forced outwardly against the action ofspring 2|0, thus permitting the spoon blank to pass upwardly beyond thelatch, As the feed slide approaches its extreme upward position, thespoon blank will pass beyond the latch 201 and permit the latch to bemoved forwardly by the spring 2|0 to bring it into the feed slidechannel |53 below the spoon blank. During this upward movement of thefeed slide and spoon blank, the brake shoe 2|5 will be forced outwardlyagainst the action of the spring 2|8 by cam 224 and lever 2|9 until thefeed slide approaches the end of its upward stroke when the brake isreleased. As the brake is released, spring 2|8 urges the brake shoeinwardly so that it presses the blank firmly against the upper portionof the slide plate |5| and holds the blank on seat |54. As the feedslide |50 begins its return or downward movement, the latch 201 will bein the path of movement of the spoon blank and hold said blank in anintermediate raised position against being moved downwardly by the feedslide.

As soon as the upper portion of the plate |5| passes below the spoonblank, the blank will be pressed from the narrow portion of the guiderecess |49 into the head or wider portion thereof by the action of thespring 2|8 upon the brake shoe 2|5 and by the engagement of the end 206of head 206 with the handle portion of the blank. In other words, thebrake and retaining head coact tov bring the spoon blank into alignmentwith the plate portion |5| of the feed slide. As the feed slideapproaches its lowermost position, the feed rollers |16 will again forcea succeeding spoon blank contained in the chute or magazine |34 intoengagement with the upper portion of the feed plate |5| with the lowerend of the blank in position to be engaged by the sea-t |54 as the feedslide is again moved upwardly.

During the initial portion of the second upward movement of the feedslide the lower end of the first spoon blank will be caused to passthrough the throat portion |56 of the recess |56 into said recess due tothe blank being frictionalfly maintained against upward movement by thebrake shoe 2|5. After the first spoon blank has been received in therecess |56 the brake shoe is moved outwardly by cam 224 and lever 2|9 torelease the blank which is then carried upwardly or forwardly of thefeed slide and into a die member 80 registering with the upper end ofthe feed slide recess |49. This die member, as hereinbefore explained,will be in the open position in registration with the recess 95 of thekeeper 92.

It will be understood that during the upward movement of the first spoonblank the second spoon blank will be moved upwardly about the latch 201in the manner hereinbefore described for the first spoon blank so as tobe retained in an intermediate position in the feed slide recess as thefeed slide again returns to its lowermost position. Just prior to thefeed slide commencing its return downward movement the die closingmechanism |04 will be actuated to effect closing of the die 80 inregistration with the feed slide recess. During the initial closingoperation of the die 80 the bowl portion of the spoon blank will befirst engaged by the adjacent portion of the male die section 83 whichwill press the spoon blank tightly against the female die and maintainsaid blank against downward movement during the initial downwardmovement of the feed slide and thereby cause the lower end of the spoonblank to be withdrawn from the recess |56 of the feed slide.

Simultaneusly with the closing of the die 80, the jaws |21 of the blankcompression unit |26 will be moved into pressure engagement with themarginal edge of the bowl portion of the spoon blank by the engagementof the cam arms |32 with said jaw members for compressing the bowlportion of the spoon from its swollen or expanded position as indicatedby broken lines in Figure 19, to substantially its normal contractedposition before being treated with water, steam or other moisteningagent, as indicated by full lines in Figure 19. This compression of thebowl portion of the spoon blank is preferably accomplished during theinitial closing operation of the die member, that is, during the initiallateral bending of the bowl portion of the spoon blank, as indicated inFigure 22, or before the molding of the spoon blank is fully completed,as illustrated in Figure 2l. The pressure thus applied to the edge ofthe bowl contracts said bowl portion Aof the spoon blank simultaneouslywith the lateral bending of said portion and produces a spoon bowl ofconcavo-convex form without causing undue stretching stresses thereon.

It will be understood that the oven I0 will have been heated to thedesired temperature prior to the insertion of a spoon blank into a diemounted on the carrier 12. The temperature usually maintained in theoven l0 during the operation of the machine by the heating elements I9has heretofore been approximately 400 F. This temperature of the ovenmay be determined by the use of a suitable thermometer T inserted in theoven, as indicated in Figure 6.

The spoon blanks normally contain from ten to twelve percent. moistureand, after they have been conditioned by the moistening agent, containfrom seventeen to twenty percent. moisture. The relatively high degreeof temperature maintained in the oven l0 heats the dies accordingly,with the result that most of the moisture carried by the spoon blanks isextracted therefrom during the movement of the blanks and dies from thefeeding to the discharge positions so that as the blanks are ejectedfrom the oven |0 they contain only four or i'lve percent. moisture. Itis thus seen that the blanks, as they leave the oven, are in a dryerstate than before being treated with the moistening agent. This highpercentage of moisture dispelled from each spoon blank is due primarilyto` the peculiar manner in which the die closing mechanism and the diekeepers act upon the dies so that steam formed by the high temperaturemaintained in the oven I0 may readily escape from the blanksparticularly at the central portions thereof clamped between the diesections 8| and 03. It will be noted that although each blank issubjected to high pressure by the die sections as said sections areclosed by the die closing mechanism |04, shrinkage of each blank as itdries gradually reduces the pressure contact of the die sectionstherewith. This is due to the action of the die closing mechanism 04upon each die being discontinued as soon as the die is closed and to thefact each die section 83 is maintained against outward opening movementonly by its keeper 92. In other words, each keeper 92 does not functionto move the die section 83 inwardly as the blank shrinks so that steamformed in each spoon blank adjacent the central portion of the diesections readily escapes into the oven as the pressure contact of saiddie sections with the spoon blank decreases. Furthermore, it will benoted that there is little or no shrinkage or contraction of the bowlsproduced by the heat in the oven l after said bowls have been engaged bythe jaw members |21 and male and female dies 8| and 83. These twofeatures practically eliminate checking and splitting of the bbwls asthe wood becomes thoroughly dry during the passage of the blanks throughthe oven I0 from the inlet to the outlet openings, so that thepercentage of waste of the finished spoons from checking and splittingis reduced to a minimum.

The moisture carried by the spoon blanks is turned to steam or vapor bythe engagement of the dies therewith. This steam or vapor escapes fromthe oven chamber 2| through an opening Z provided in the wall of theoven at the uppermost part thereof. A curved baffle plate 246 may, asshown in Figure 24, be supported by the cross rod 3 to extend over theopening 245 for preventing condensation which otherwise would collect onthe cross rod from returning through opening 245 to the oven chamberlli.

During the cycles of movement of the feed slide |50, the die carrier 12will be intermittently rotated by the action of the pawl 38 upon theratchet wheel 31 to bring successive die members Bil into registrationwith the upper end of the feed slide recess M9 for loading the diemembers. As the loaded die members approach the end of a completerevolution, the keeper members 92 will be successively actuated by theengagement of the pins 91 with the cam 98 for releasing the die carryingarms 85 and permit said arms and the male die sections 83 carriedthereby to swing outwardly away from the female die sections 8| by theaction of springs 89 and plungers 81. This outward movement of each diesection releases the formed spoon S carried thereby and permits the sameto pass from the interior of the oven I!) through the opening 99whereupon it may be deposited in a suitable receptacle therefor in anysuitable manner, as on to a chute (not shown) It will now be understoodthat inasmuch as each keeper member 92 will be maintained in theposition illustrated in Figure 16 of the drawings after having beenrocked by the coaction of the pin 91 and cam 98 to release the diecarrying arm 85, said keeper will be maintained in said position by theengagement of the arm in the recess 85 and action of plunger 81 on saidarm against the action of the corresponding spring |00. However, as soonas the arm 85 is moved toward the female die section 8| by the dieclosing mechanism |84, the spring |09 will rock said keeper about thepin 93 as soon as the arm 85 moves out of the recess 95 to bring the camsurface 98 into contact with the lower end of the arm. This cam surfacebeing arranged eccentric to the pin 93 will automatically lock the arm85 in the innermost position thereof as produced by the die closingmechanism 64 irrespective of any variations in the thickness of thespoon blanks or in the position of the lower end of the arm 85 as aresult thereof.

The branding or stamping mechanism 238 is so constructed andintermittently operated that the same will be brought into operativeengagement with the spoon blanks when said spoon blanks are beingmaintained in their intermediate position in the feed slide recess bythe latch 201 after the feed slide |50 has been returned to itslowermost position.

It will be obvious that the machine may continuously operate for moldingsuccessive spoon blanks so long as blanks are maintained in the chute ormagazine |34 between the feed rollers |15 and the feed slide |50.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction shown, as various changes both in the form and relation ofparts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for molding spoons or the like, a support, a spoon moldmounted on said support, said mold including male and female diesections engageable with opposite sides of at least a portion of thespoon blank, clamping elements arranged in predetermined relation withthe male and female die sections for engaging opposite edges of saidspoon blank portion, means for producing relative movement of the diesections toward each other to bring them into pressure engagement withthe spoon blanks, and means associated with one of said die sections andactuated by said relative movement of said `sections for moving theclamping elements into pressure engagement with said edges of the spoonblank.

2. In a molding machine of the class described, a support, a sectionaldie member on said support adapted to receive spoon blanks or the liketherein, said die member including a relatively Xed die section and amovable die section movable toward and from the xed die section foropening fand closing the die, a keeper member rotatably connected withthe support and having `a cam surface movable into and out of holdingrelation with the movable die section for releasably maintaining saidsection in a closed position, means including a spring connected withsaid keeper for yieldingly urging said cam surface into said holdingengagement with the die section, means for moving said keeper againstthe action of the spring to bring the cam surface thereof out of holdingengagement with said movable die section, and separate means for movingthe die section to the open position, said keeper and movable diesection having cooperating holding elements brought into engagement witheach other when said die section is in the open position for releasablyholding the keeper against the action of the spring with the cam surfacethereof in an inoperative position.

3. In a blank molding machine of the character described having a mold'adapted to receive a blank therein, in combination, means for feeding ablank to the mold comprising a reciprocating feed slide having a blankreceiving seat intermediate its ends, means for reciprocating said slideto bring the blank seat from a blank-receiving position to a positionintermediate said receiving position and said mold, means fortemporarily maintaining the blank in said intermediate position duringthe return movement of the slide, and means for marking said blank whenin said intermediate position.

4. In a blank molding machine of the character described having a moldadapted to receive a blank therein, in combination, means forsuccessively feeding the blanks to the mold comprising a feed slidehaving a pair of blank engaging elements arranged in spaced relation toeach other longitudinally of the slide, means for reciprocating saidslide to bring one of the blank engaging elements from a blank-receivingposition to an intermediate position and to bring the second one of saidblank engaging elements from said intermediate position to a positionadjacent said mold for moving the blank from the intermediate positioninto said mold, and means for marking the blank when said blank is insaid intermediate position.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the blank engaging elementsare arranged in spaced relation to each other transversely of thereciprocative movement of the slide, and means adapted to engage theblank when in said intermediate position for moving thel same from thepath of movement of the rst mentioned blank engaging element into thepath of movement of the second mentioned blank engaging element.

6. In a blank molding machine of the character described having a moldadapted to receive a blank therein, in combination, means forsuccessively feeding blanks to the mold comprising a feed slide having apair of blank engaging elements arranged in spaced relation to eachother longitudinally of the slide and transversely of the reciprocativemovement of said slide, means for reciprocating the slide to bring oneof said blank engaging elements from a blank-receivingr position to anintermediate position to bring a' blank to said intermediate positionand to move the second one of said blank engaging elements from theintermediate position to a position adjacent said mold for moving ablank from said intermediate position into said mold, means including ayieldingly operated latch movable into the path of movement of the blankto engage the rear end thereof for maintaining said blank in saidintermediate position, a brake element spaced from said latch andengageable with the blank intermediate the ends thereof for moving saidblank laterally with respect to the latch from a position in the path ofmovement of said first mentioned blank engaging element into the path ofmovement of said second mentioned blank engaging element, means foractuating said brake elementV to release the blank after said blank isengaged by said second mentioned blank engaging element, and means formarking said blank prior to said operation of the brake element.

7. In an apparatus of the character described having a mold adapted toreceive thin wooden blanks therein, in combination, a chute adapted toreceive said blanks stacked in side by side relationship, a feed slidearranged substantially normal to the direction ofV movement of theblanks in said chute, a guideway for said slide, `means forreciprocating said slide to deliver a blank from said chute to saidmold, and means for feeding the blanks under yieldingv pressure alongsaid chute and into said guideway in position to be engaged by saidslide during the reciprocative movement thereof, said feeding meanscomprising a pair of rotating resilient wheels arranged at oppositesides of said chute in position to engage the sides ofsaid blanks,whereby said blanks are crowded together so as to maintain them in aflat condition.

8. In a blank molding machine of the character described having a moldadapted to receive a blank therein, in combination, means forsuccessively feeding the blanks to the mold comprising a feed slidehaving a pair of blank engaging elements arranged in spaced relation toeach other longitudinally of said slide, said blank engaging elementsbeing also arranged in spaced relation to each other transversely of theslide, means for reciprocating said slide to lbring one of the blankengaging elements from a blank receiving position remote from the moldto a position intermediate said blank receiving position and said moldand to bring the second one of said blank receiving elements from saidintermediate position to a position adjacent said mold for moving ablank from the receiving position into said mold, and means adapted toengage the blank when in said intermediate position for moving the samefrom the path of movement of the first mentioned blank engaging elementinto the path of movement of the second blank engaging element.

9. In a spoon molding machine of the character described, a rotatablecarrier having a series of sectional molds mounted thereon, a singlepower operated mold closing means disposed adjacent the path of themolds for-successively closing the molds, a plurality of keeper elementsone for each mold mounted on the carrier for holding the molds in theclosed position, a single keeper actuating means arranged in the path ofthe keeper elements in predetermined relation to the mold closing meansadapted to successively cause said keeper elements to move out ofholding relation with the molds to release said mold sections, andseparate means mounted on the carrier adapted to actuate the releasedmold sections to open said molds.

10. In a spoon molding machine of the character described, a rotatablecarrier having a series of sectional molds mounted thereon, spring meansassociated with the sections of each mold normally urging the molds tothe open position, a single power operated mold closing means disposedadjacent the path of the molds for successively closing the moldsagainst the action of said spring means, a plurality of spring actuatedkeeper elements one for each mold mounted on the carrier and functioningindependently of the mold closing means for holding said molds in theclosed position against the action of the mold opening means, and asingle keeper actuating means arranged in the path of the keeperelements in predetermined relation to the mold closing means adapted tosuccessively cause said keeper elements to move out of holding relationwith the molds.

11. In a machine for molding spoons from thin wooden blanks, a rotatablecarrier having a series of spoon molds mounted thereon, each of saidmolds having tvvocsets of relatively movable side and edge forming meansengaging opposite sides and edges respectively of a portion of the spoonblank for forming the spoon bowl, a single power operated moldclosingmeans disposed adjacent the path of the molds for successivelyclosing one of the forming means of the molds, means actuated by saidmold closing means for closing the other one of said forming means ofthe molds, a plurality of keeper elements one for each mold mounted onthe carrier for holding the molds in the closed position, a singlekeeper actuating means arranged in the path of the keeper elements inpredetermined relation to the power operated mold closing means adaptedto successively cause said keeper elements to move out of holdingrelation with the molds to release said relatively movable side and edgeforming means, and separate means supported by the carrier adapted toactuate said released side and edge forming means to open said molds.

12. In a molding machine for forming wooden blanks into predeterminedarcuate form, a mold comprising male and female die sections havingrelative movement toward and from each other to receive a blank betweenthem and to press said blank into said arcuate form, a pair of clampingmembers mounted on one of the die sections to move with respect theretoand to each other in a direction substantially normal to the directionof said relative movement of the die sections for receiving the blankbetween them and for compressing said blank, means for operating saiddie sections, and separate means for operating the clamping membersincluding cam elements carried by the other die section arranged to haveengagement with said clamping members, said cam elements being renderedeffective by said relative movement of the die sections for actuatingsaid clamping members.

13. In a wooden spoon molding machine, a support, a spoon mold includingmale and female die sections carried by said support, at least one ofsaid die sections having movement with respect to the other die sectionfor opening and closing the mold, a reciprocating plunger separate fromsaid mold and movable into and out of operative engagement with one ofsaid die sections for closing the mold, and power driven means foractuating said plunger and cooperating with the support to eiect closingof the mold under relatively high pressure and including an operatingelement having a positive predetermined action.

14. In a wooden spoon molding machine, a movable support, a .pluralityof spoon molds mounted on said support, each of said molds comprising amovable die section, means for moving said support to bring the spoonmolds successively to a loading station, and means located adjacent theloading station for closing said molds, said closing means including apositively driven yielding plunger engageable with the movable dieysection of a mold only when said mold is at said loading station.

l5. In a machine for molding spoons or the like, a support, a sectionaldie mem-ber mounted on said support, one of the sections of said diemember being movable relative to another section to open and close thedie, means independent of said sectional die member for producingmovement of said movable die section to close the die, and separatemeans including a keeper element associated with the support and havinga holding surface operatively engageable with l the movable die sectionfor maintaining said die section in the closed position.

16. In a machine for molding spoons or the like, a support, a sectionaldie member mounted on said support having a Xed die section and amovable die section movable with respect to said fixed section to openand close the die, die closing means including an actuating element tem-.porarily engageable With the movable die section for closing said diemember, and a cam member rotatably connected with the Xed die sectionoperatively engageable with the movable die section during rotation ofsaid cam and functioning independently of said die closing means formaintaining the die member closed.

17. A machine as dened in claim 16 having resilient means operativelyassociated With said cam member for yieldingly urging the cam mem- :berinto said engagement with the movable die section.

18. In a wooden spoon molding machine of the class described, a movablecarrier, a sectional spoon mold mounted on said carrier having at leastone of the sections thereof movable with respect to the carrier to openand close the mold, means for moving said carrier to bring the mold intoand out of a loading station, power means positioned at said loadingstation including a .positively driven actuating element temporarilyengagea-ble With said movable mold section yior closing the mold, keepermeans mounted on the carrier to move therewith having a holding surfaceengageable with the movable mold section, means actuating said keepermeans to maintain said mold closed, means spaced from the carrier andarranged in vpredetermined spaced relation to the loading station foractuating the keeper means to release said mold section, and separatemeans on the carrier acting on said movable mold section when releasedfor opening said mold.

19. In a molding machine of the class described, a support, a sectionaldie member on said support adapted to receive spoon blanks or the liketherein, said die member including a die section movable for opening andclosing the die, a spring actuated keeper member rotatably connectedwith the support and having a cam surface movable into and out ofholding relation with the movable die section for releasably maintainingsaid section in the closed position, means for moving said keeperagainst the action of the spring to release said movable die section,and actuating means for moving the released die section to the openposition, said keeper and movable die section having two sets ofcooperating holding elements, the holding elements of one of said setsbeing brought into engagement with each other when said die section isin the open position, for releasably holding the keeper against theaction of the spring with the cam surface thereof in an inoperativeIposition, and the holding elements of the second set being adapted tocooperate for releasably maintaining the movable die section in apredetermined open position against the operation of said actuatingmeans.

20. In a molding machine for producing an article of curved lcongurationfrom a substantially at blank composed of wood or analogous material, incombination, male and female die sections mounted to receive the blankbetween them, operating means for producing relative movement oi the diesections toward and from each other to bring them into and out ofoperative engagement with opposite side surfaces of the blank, a pair ofspaced clamping elements mounted adjacent the die sections to receivethe blank between them simultaneous with said die sections and to engageopposite edge surfaces of said blank, and additional operating meanslocated on a movable one of said die sections and extending in advanceof said section so as to operate prior to the end of the relativemovement of the die sections toward each other to produce relativemovement of the clamping elements toward each other into engagement withsaid opposite edge surfaces of the blank with suicient force to movesaid latter surfaces inwardly toward each other.

21. In a molding machine for producing an article of curvedconfiguration from a substantially flat blank composed of wood oranalogous material -that has been swollen by moisture, in combination,male and female die sections mounted to receive the blank between them,operating means for producing relative movement of the die sectionstoward `and from each other to bring them into and out of operativeengagement with opposite side surfaces of the blank, a pair of spacedclamping elements mounted adjacent the die sections to receive the blankbetween them simultaneous with said die sections and to engage oppositeedge surfaces of said blank, and additional operating means located on amovable one of said die sections and eX- tending in advance of saidsection so as to operate prior to the end of th'e relative movement ofthe die sections toward each other to produce relative movement of theclamping elements toward each other into engagement with said oppositeedge surfaces of the blank, said latter operating means including cammembers having 'a deiinite action on said clamping elements so that saidlatter surfaces are returned to substantially their normal spacedrelation which existed prior to said swelling of said blank.

22. The method of forming a spoon having Y a handle and a bowl from asubstantially flat wooden blank having a handle portion and a bowlportion which comprises rendering the blank pliable by impregnation withmoisture, bending the blank to the desired spoon shape, constraining theblank in the bent shape while exerting pressure vover the surface of theblank, subjecting the constrained blank to heat to drive out themoisture therefrom, and substantially reducing the pressure as themoisture is driven off.

23. The method of forming a spoon having a handle and a bowl from asubstantially flat wooden rblank h'aving a handle portion and a bowlportion which comprises impregnating the blank with an excess ofmoisture to render the blank pliable, placing the blank between a pairof cooperative forming elements, forcing said forming elements towardone another to bend said blank to the desired spoon shape, holding saidforming elements under pressure while heating said blank to drive offsaid excess moisture, and substantially reducing said pressure as saidexcess moisture is driven off..

24. 'The method of forming a wooden spoon having a handle and a bowlfrom a substantially iiat wooden blank having a handle Vportion and bowlportion which comprises impregnating ,said blank with' an excess ofmoisture to render the blank pliable, laterally compressing the bowlportion of said blank, bending said blank to the desired spoon shape bythe application of pressure over the surface of the blank whilemaintaining said lateral compression, and driving off the excessmoisture from said blank while simultaneously substantially decreasingthe lateral compression and the bending vpressure as said moisture isdriven off,

25. In a wooden spoon molding machine, a

support, a spoon mold including male and female die sections carried bysaid support, one of said die sections being movable with respect to theother die section for opening and closing said mold, a reciprocableplunger movable independently of said mold and said support, saidplunger being adapted to contact said movable die member to close saidmold under pressure, and power driven plunger operating means includinga positively driven member and yielding means between said member andsaid plunger.

26. In a wooden spoon molding machine, a movable support, va Vpluralityyof spoon molds mounted on said support, each of said'molds comprising amovable die section, means for moving said support to bring the spoonmolds successively to a loading station, and means located adjacent saidloading station for closing said molds, said closing means including aplunger engageable with the movable die section of a mold only when saidmold is at said loading station, positively driven means for actuatingsaid 'plunger independently of said movable support, and yielding meansbetween said actuating means and said plunger.

ARTHUR C. HOPKINS.

